Beaumont Parish Action Plan for the Communities of Beaumont, Grinsdale, Hosket Hill, Kirkandrews-on-Eden and Monkhill 2013 to 2018 ~ 1 ~ Contents Parish Profile 3 The Consultation Process 5 Action Plan 6 Acknowledgements 15 References 15 If you would like a larger print version of this document or would like to view it electronically then please contact: [email protected] The full version of the Parish Plan is held by the Clerk to the Parish Council, Mrs Margaret McKenna. [email protected] It can also be seen at Beaumont Parish Hall, Grinsdale Village Hall and the Hall at Monkhill Chapel. ~ 2 ~ Parish Profile Beaumont Parish is bounded to the North by the River Eden, to the East by the Carlisle City Boundary, to the South and West by the parishes of The Ortons and Burgh by Sands. The Census of 2010 reveals a population of 460 residents, including 70 children under 16 and 80 people over 65, living in 180 households. The Parish comprises a traditional rural area, and includes the villages of Beaumont, Grinsdale and Kirkandrews on Eden, together with the hamlets of Monkhill and Hosket Hill and scattered neighbouring properties. A high proportion of houses are owner occupied, detached and above Band C Council Tax rating, but a higher than average proportion of the housing stock is deemed to be energy inefficient. There are no shops or schools within the Parish, and children from the Parish can attend the Primary School at Burgh by Sands (3 miles) and Secondary school at Dalston (6 miles). The Beaumont Parish Hall is situated in Kirkandrews on Eden, and there is also a Village Hall at Grinsdale. The Church of St. Mary at Beaumont (C of E) is a Grade 2* Listed Building, sited on a Norman „Motte‟, which itself sits over the site of a Turret of Hadrian‟s Wall (World Heritage Site). There is an active Methodist Chapel at Monkhill, with a fully serviced, annexed social hall building. The Church of St. Kentigern at Grinsdale was closed for worship in 2001, as a result of Foot and Mouth Disease in the surrounding villages. ~ 3 ~ There is one public house, „The Drovers Rest‟, in the Parish at Monkhill, which will shortly be under new ownership having been temporarily closed on several occasions in recent years. There are two graveyards in the Parish, at Grinsdale and Beaumont, and the Parish Council grants financial support towards the cost of their maintenance. There is also a closed graveyard (maintained by Cumbria County Council) in Kirkandrews on Eden adjacent to the site of the former St Andrews Church (closed in 1750‟s and with no visible evidence remaining) There is a „Pound‟ in Kirkandrews on Eden and an attractive Village Green (part of the former Norman “Bailey” in Beaumont), both maintained by Beaumont Parish Council. The River Eden passes the villages of Grinsdale, Kirkandrews on Eden and Beaumont, before exiting into the Solway Firth at Sandsfield, on the Western boundary of the Parish. The river and its banks are classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Parish is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The course of the former Hadrian‟s Wall (World Heritage Site) transits the Parish through Grinsdale, Kirkandrews on Eden and Beaumont, then crosses the fields directly West of St Mary‟s Church towards Burgh by Sands. The opportunities that this presents are taken into account within this Parish Action Plan. The principal occupation of the residents of the Parish, until relatively recent years, was mixed agriculture and, although now offering significantly less employment, this still shapes the area‟s character. ~ 4 ~ The Consultation Process The Project Team first met in December 2011, and received advice from a representative of Burgh by Sands Parish Council, who had been involved in the creation of their Plan in 2003. In February 2012, Hellen Aitken from ACT met the Project Team, and assisted in structuring a Project Programme to consult with the community. This began, in April 2012, with 2 Open Meetings in Beaumont Parish Hall, to which all residents were individually invited. Those attending the Open Meetings were given a presentation by Hellen about the concepts and advantages of creating Parish Plans, with examples from recent successful projects in rural areas. Many ideas were received from these Open Meetings, and additional members of the community offered to assist on the Project Team. A further presentation was made during the Parish celebrations of the Jubilee. Here members of the community were invited to add their comments to those from the open meetings and children were asked to draw their vision for the Parish. The stand was left in place for one month to allow all of the hall‟s user groups to contribute. Analysis of the information gained enabled the creation of a Questionnaire which was distributed by hand to every registered elector (397) in the Parish during October 2012. 69 completed questionnaires were returned in November 2012 and the responses were collated and analysed. Progress Reports, together with advice as to the opportunities for general public involvement, were regularly published in monthly editions of “Parish News”. The issues, concerns and wishes of respondents to the Public Consultations and Questionnaires informed the creation of the Parish Action Plan. Following consultation with Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, ACT and the other possible partners identified in the Action Plan, the finalised Parish Plan was published in July 2013. ~ 5 ~ Action Plan Ref Issue Action Partners Timescale Priority AP01 Produce a Develop a focus group to take the Members of the Parish Lifetime of H Community following initiatives forward council and volunteers Plan Action Plan from the community. AP02 Produce a Full Full Copy to be available in hard copy Copies also to be July 2013 H Plan with Parish Clerk and in Village Halls. lodged with Local Electronic copy on Parish website Authority and other relevant public bodies AP03 Distribute Plan Distribute a Summary copy of the Parish Distribution team from July 2013 H Plan to each household in Parish. Parish Plan Group. AP04 Launch Plan Distribute advertisement leaflet in Parish Hall Committee July 2013 H July/August Parish Magazine. and Parish Plan Group Present Full Parish Plan to public with opportunities for questions as part of Parish Event in Beaumont Parish Hall. Amenities & Personal Development Q3-9 APD01 Increase use Discuss potential uses of the halls with Hall Committees and 2013/4 M of parish halls relevant organisations within the parish other village committees. APD02 Increase use Discuss findings of survey with new New publican. 2013/4 M of Drovers publican. Rest ~ 6 ~ Ref Issue Action Partners Timescale Priority APD03 Improve Publicise library van in the Parish County Council. 2014 M access to magazine and notice boards and Library discuss library facilities with County facilities Council APD04 Parish facilities APD04a Improve Parish Council to consult with Village Hall Committees Lifetime of M facilities for Parishioners, Village Hall Committees Other Villages in the plan Children and and other villages in the area on area and Parishioners Young people provision of play equipment, Mother and generally Toddler group and Social Activities APD04b Improve Parish Council to encourage groups Village Hall Committees 2014 M facilities for running classes and activities to Other Villages in the Adults advertise activities more area and Parishioners generally APD04c Improve public Bus services See roads and transport transport RT02 APD04d Improve Parish Council to initiate the Hadrian‟s Wall Trust, Autumn H information for development of information boards and Natural England and 2013 then Tourists signage Solway AONB. ongoing APD04e Provide toilets Parish Council to discuss the feasibility Hadrian‟s Wall Trust Autumn H & refreshments of providing toilets and refreshments. 2014 - for tourists ongoing APD04f Provide Parish Council to consider needs of Website developer Spring H information tourists during website development Hadrian‟s Wall Trust 2014 online for tourists ~ 7 ~ Ref Issue Action Partners Timescale Priority APD04g Provide PC to discuss the provision of car Ongoing L benches and parking and seating in the Parish car parking for tourists APD05a Improve Parish Council to discuss with the Parish Hall Committee Ongoing M tennis courts Parish Hall Committee to make a more usable community facility APD05b Improve Parish Council to discuss provision of a Parish Hall Committee Autumn L access to the path to the play area with the Parish 2013 play area Hall Committee APD06 Improve Discuss access issues with relevant Highways Department Lifetime of M wheelchair organisations and represent view of Bus Companies plan and parishioners to bus company pushchair accessibility APD07 Improve refuse Parish Council to monitor and contact City Council 2013 M and recycling City Council as necessary to ensure Parishioners Life of plan services consistency of service throughout the throughout the parish Parish Contact City Council ref recycling bins in pub car park ~ 8 ~ Ref Issue Action Partners Timescale Priority Environment Q10-11 E01 Make use of Parish Council to instigate a Group of Parishioners 2014 M the Pound interested parties responsible for Groundwork developing a practical plan and to review proposals from this group to ensure practicality, cost and sustainability and to assist in obtaining funding E02 Improve the Parish council to instigate a Tourism Burgh Tourism Group 18 months experience of Group to develop viable schemes of for assistance. Then tourists and improvement and liaise with established Involve relevant tourism ongoing M visitors organisations promotion Group to report to Parish Council, who organisations. will assist with obtaining funding E03 Involve the Parish Council to discuss findings with “Sustainable Churches” 12 months M church and Church and Chapel initiative. Ongoing chapel more in community life.